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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sister1's Wedding: Pictures

Here's the Sister1 Wedding Story in pictures (as promised). She got married at City Hall in San Francisco and it was gorgeous! First they waited to sign the official papers (you take a number, like at the deli!). They had their ceremony in front of a huge Christmas tree covered in paper cranes, then took pictures around the building. The next day we had the reception at my parent's house in Petaluma. It was a great wedding!

Sister2 and I proclaimed ourselves Co-Maids of Honor and gave toasts for the couple - scroll down to read them through the pictures.

At City Hall

Sister2's Toast

I remember the first time I met Geoff when I was twelve and Jean and I took turns telling Geoff embarrassing stories about the other.

I won’t repeat the story I told him about Jean because she’d kill me, but I’m happy he stuck around after hearing it.

Since then, I have made myself part of their relationship by tagging along and playing the little sister role up as much as possible.

Throughout their relationship, Jean has done a lot to take care of me and I have been waiting years to be able to officially call Geoff my brother.

Although their engagement wasn’t a surprise and it was something I had been waiting on for quite some time, it came at a time when I needed some reassuring in love and a lasting relationship.

Jeannie and Geoff made it through high school graduation, the confusing and frustrating college years, a semester apart while Jean studied abroad, post-graduation unemployment, and multiple apartment changes.

They have figured out how to press each other’s buttons.

I don’t know how many public group hugs Geoff and I have made Jeannie put up with and it scares me to think of how many purses Geoff has bought Jean in addition to the hundreds of cupcakes he has had to eat.

But I guess it you’re going to have something forced on you, it might as well be cupcakes.

Through it all, though, they have become an amazing couple that I cannot imagine apart.

You guys really are an inspiration and I am confident that you will be together for the rest of your lives.

I am so happy for both of you and love you both very much.

Congratulations!

My Toast

Like Bridget said, as the younger sisters we’ve always looked up to Jeannie.

Since she’s really not that far ahead of me, I’ve pretty much followed directly behind her, watching the example she’s set and always just wishing I was as cool as her.

I remember watching her ballet lessons and swim meets, dropping her off on her first day of kindergarten, and on her first day of college.

And every time I wished I was doing what she was doing.

And just as she has led the way as a Zapata sister and daughter, she and Geoff together have set the example for us as a perfect couple.

As the older sister Jeannie holds so much power of approval.

She’ll tell us to wear, what she thinks - I think we’ve all suffered under the condemnation of the ugh and eye roll.

Because though she’s a quiet one, Jeannie has very strong likes and dislikes, loves and hates, and there is a very fine line between them.

Geoff, on the other hand, is much more simple.

I’ve been a huge Geoff fan since they started dating in High school.

(The Reception in Petaluma)

And the summer after their freshman year he spent almost every day at our house, so even though they were a relatively new couple he was already starting to feel like part of the family.

And here we are, 8 years later, and they’re married.

And unlike Jeannie, Geoff’s likes and dislikes are easy.

Because Geoff loves to make Jeannie happy.

And he is the only person in the world who can make her smile that beautiful smile the way she is right now.

I’ve never seen Jeannie as happy as she is when she’s with Geoff, and I am so excited to officially welcome him into the family.